Thermal regulation of a coated work-piece during the reconfiguration of the coated work-piece

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for configuring an externally coated workpiece are provided. In one example, the apparatus includes a tubular reconfiguration chamber having a plurality of slidably mounted outer walls, the outer walls slidably mounted along individual radial lines emanating from and orthogonal to the central longitudinal axis of the tubular reconfiguration chamber; and a device for adjusting and maintaining the temperature of the external coating of a work-piece located within the tubular reconfiguration chamber. In another example the apparatus includes a reconfiguration chamber; a nozzle in fluid communication with the reconfiguration chamber, a regulator in fluid communication with the nozzle, the regulator adapted to regulate the flow of a thermal transfer fluid exiting the nozzle, and a controller in communication with the regulator, the controller adapted to send control signals to the regulator to maintain the surface temperature of the external coating of the reconfigurable work-piece within a predetermined temperature range, the predetermined temperature range associated with a predetermined minimum hardness of the external coating of the reconfigurable work-piece.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 09/819,638,filed Mar. 29, 2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,739,033, which is includedherein in its entirety by reference.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

The present invention regards protecting a coated work-piece during itsmanufacture or reconfiguration. More specifically the present inventionregards reducing the probability of damaging the coating of a work-pieceduring the work-piece's manufacture by managing or regulating thetemperature of the coating.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Articles of manufacture are regularly coated for numerous and varyingreasons. For example, they may be coated to protect them from theintrusive handling they may be subjected to during their manufacture orto protect them from the environmental effects they may endure afterthey are manufactured. In either of these, as well as in others, damageto the coating of a work-piece, resulting from the handling orreconfiguration of the work-piece, is an unwanted result.

When the coating of a work-piece becomes scratched or otherwise damagedduring the work-piece's manufacture, the scratches can promote thedeterioration of the work-piece by exposing the work-piece's surface toits surroundings. Should the work-piece, upon its completion, beemployed in a corrosive environment, the exposed surface of the finishedproduct would be more vulnerable to corrosion than if its coating werecompletely intact. Moreover, the scratches and inconsistencies in thecoating of the work-piece may also reduce the effectiveness of thefinished product. For example, should the coating be used to uniformlydeliver some type of releasable substance, inconsistencies in thesurface of the coating can foster uneven and inconsistent delivery ofthe releasable substance to the deployed product's final surroundings.

An expandable coated stent is one specific example of the coatedwork-pieces described above. Expandable stents are tube-like medicaldevices designed to support the inner walls of a vessel within the bodyof a patient. These stents are typically positioned within a targetedlumen of the body and then expanded to provide internal support for thelumen. These stents may be self-expanding or, alternatively, may requireexternal forces to expand them. In either case they are typicallydeployed through the use of a catheter of some kind. These catheterstypically carry the stent at their distal ends. In use, a practitionerwill position the catheter's distal end near the target area of thelumen. Once properly positioned the stent will be deployed by thepractitioner such that it comes to rest near or in direct contact withthe inner walls of the lumen. There, the stent will remain to providesupport for the lumen.

Due to the interaction of the stent with the inner walls of the lumen,stents have been coated to enhance their effectiveness. These coatingsmay, among other things, be designed to facilitate the acceptance of thestent into its applied surroundings or to enable the delivery oftherapeutic to the lumen and its surroundings. Thus, when the coating ishaphazardly applied or has somehow been removed during the stent'smanufacture, both the stent's longevity and its effectiveness can bereduced.

The coatings on the stent may be applied at various times during itslife cycle including its manufacture, its placement onto the distal endof the delivery catheter, and contemporaneous with the medicalprocedure. At each of these times the coating may be at risk of beingscratched, damaged or otherwise removed from the surface of the stent.For example, during their manufacture, stents are often crimped onto thedistal end of a delivery catheter. This crimping process requires theexertion of significant forces against the coating of the stent tofacilitate a reduction in the stent's circumference to secure it to thecatheter. During this crimping, the mechanical arms of a crimper maycome in contact with the coating of the stent as they reduce thediameter of the stent. This compressive contact can scratch, indent,wipe-off or otherwise breach the integrity of the coating—an undesirableresult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Apparatus for configuring an externally coated workpiece are provided.In one example, the apparatus includes a tubular reconfiguration chamberhaving a plurality of slidably mounted outer walls, the outer wallsslidably mounted along individual radial lines emanating from andorthogonal to the central longitudinal axis of the tubularreconfiguration chamber; and a means for adjusting and maintaining thetemperature of the external coating of a work-piece located within thetubular reconfiguration chamber.

In another example the apparatus includes a reconfiguration chamber; anozzle in fluid communication with the reconfiguration chamber, aregulator in fluid communication with the nozzle, the regulator adaptedto regulate the flow of a thermal transfer fluid exiting the nozzle, anda controller in communication with the regulator, the controller adaptedto send control signals to the regulator to maintain the surfacetemperature of the external coating of the reconfigurable work-piecewithin a predetermined temperature range, the predetermined temperaturerange associated with a predetermined minimum hardness of the externalcoating of the reconfigurable work-piece.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a graph of volume versus temperature for an exemplary polymercoating.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial side cross-sectional view of areconfiguration chamber and a reconfigurable coated work-piece prior tothe reconfiguration of the coated work-piece in accord with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is the view of FIG. 2 shown during the reconfiguration of thecoated work-piece in accord with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a reconfiguration chamber shownprior to the execution of a work stroke in accord with an alternativeembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5—5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is another cross-sectional view of the reconfiguration chamber ofFIG. 4 shown after a work stroke has been completed in accord with analternative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a side view of a reconfiguration chamber in accord withanother alternative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a side view of a reconfiguration chamber in accord withanother alternative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a side view of a self-expanding stent within a sheath asmanufactured by a method in accord with another alternative embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view of a reconfigurationchamber in accord with another alternative embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view of a reconfigurationchamber in accord with another alternative embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In one embodiment of the present invention the hardness or resilience ofthe coating of a work-piece is temporarily increased by adjusting itspreexisting temperature to be closer to its glass transitiontemperature. Then, while the coating is in this temporarily hardened ormore resilient state, the force required to reconfigure the work-pieceis applied against the coating. By temporarily increasing the hardnessof the coating through its change in temperature, the coating is betterable to withstand the forces and pressures exerted upon it during thereconfiguration of the work-piece. Thus, the coating is more likely toremain intact both during the remainder of the manufacturing of thework-piece and after the work-piece has been completely manufactured andis employed for its intended purpose.

FIG. 1 is a graph of volume versus temperature for a polymer that may beused as a coating in accord with one embodiment of the presentinvention. The temperature of the polymer is plotted along the x-axis 11while its corresponding volume is plotted along the y-axis 10. The glasstransition temperature (T_(g)) 12 as well as the melting temperature(T_(m)) 13 are specifically labeled on the x-axis 11 of the graph. Alsolabeled in the graph is the line 18 representing the specific volume fora given temperature of this exemplary polymer. This line 18 has threephase ranges identified on it, the glass phase 14, the super-cooledliquid phase 15, and the liquid phase 16. The crystalline propertydelineation line 17 for this exemplary polymer is also evident in FIG.1.

The exemplary polymer graphed in FIG. 1 is a typical polymer. It iscomprised of chains or strings of molecules that are interwoven and ableto move in and around one another. As the polymer cools the chains loosetheir ability to freely flow around and among one another, and, thus,the polymer becomes stiffer and decreases in volume.

When the polymer temperature is within the liquid range 16 the chains ofmolecules comprising the polymer may move freely amongst one anotherand, consequently, the polymer behaves much like a liquid. As thetemperature decreases, the thermal agitation among the molecules lessensand the volume of the liquid shrinks. This decrease in volume continuesbelow the melting point (T_(m)) 13 of the polymer and into itssuper-cooled liquid range. Below the melting point (T_(m)) 13, thechains of molecules may still flow around and among themselves but theydo so at a lower rate than in the liquid phase. It is here, in thissuper-cooled liquid range, that the hardness and resiliency of thepolymer will increase as its temperature approaches the glass transitiontemperature (T_(g)) 12. When the temperature of the polymer reaches theglass transition temperature (T_(g)) 12 the polymer enters the glassphase 14. Here, the polymer becomes more brittle than in thesuper-cooled liquid phase as the molecules can no longer continuallyrearrange themselves. Moreover, as is evident in the graph of FIG. 1,the rate of volume change in relation to temperature changes at thispoint as it is one constant above the glass transition temperature(T_(g)) 12 and a different constant below the glass transitiontemperature (T_(g)) 12.

FIG. 2 provides an enlarged partial cross-section of a slidable outerwall 20 of a reconfiguration chamber positioned near a reconfigurablework-piece 22, prior to a work stroke, in accord with one embodiment ofthe present invention. In this embodiment, prior to the beginning of awork stroke, the slidable outer wall is not in contact with the coating21 or the reconfigurable work-piece 22 as is evident by the existence ofvoid 23.

FIG. 3 provides an enlarged cross-section of the slidable outer wall 20and the reconfigurable work-piece 22 of FIG. 2 during a work stroke. Ascan be seen, the slidable outer wall 20 is in direct contact with thecoating 21 of the reconfigurable work-piece 22. As is also evident, mostbut not all of the void 23 is filled during the work stroke as somesmall areas of void 23 remain when the slidable outer wall 20 comes incontact with the coating.

In order to increase the resiliency and hardness of the coating and toreduce the potential damage to it from the direct contact with theslidable outer wall 20, the coating may be cooled to be within itssuper-cooled liquid range. By lowering the temperature of the coating21, closer to the glass transition temperature of the coating, thecoating 21 can be sufficiently hardened to protect it from the forcesgenerated by its direct contact with the slidable outer wall 20. Due tothis temporal hardening, the coating 21 may remain substantially intacton the work-piece and may be able to continue to protect the work-piece22 during the remaining steps of its manufacture and, afterwards, as thework-piece is deployed for its intended use.

The slidable outer wall 20 provided in FIGS. 2–3 may be any one ofinnumerable pinching, moving, or force exerting components of amanufacturing machine or process. Likewise, the reconfigurablework-piece may be any one of innumerable work-pieces or products ofmanufacture currently manufactured in modem manufacturing systems. Inaddition, the coating 21 may be one of numerous commercial or industrialcoatings including various ceramics, polymers, and waxes. These polymerscould include SIBS polymers (styrene-isobutylene-styrene) and any othersuitable polymer.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a reconfiguration chamber 40 as maybe used to crimp or crease a stent 42 onto the distal end of a ballooncatheter 44 in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the presentinvention. As can be seen in FIG. 4, the reconfiguration chamber 40 hasslidable outer walls 41 that are in physical communication with oneanother and define a hexagonal-like adjustable aperture. Resident withinthis aperture is the distal end of a balloon catheter 44 having anexterior wall 45. A stent 42, encircling the distal end of the ballooncatheter 44 and having a coating 47 with an exterior surface of thecoating 48, is also pictured in FIG. 4. As can also be seen in thisembodiment, the exterior surface of the coating 48 has a void 43 betweenit and the interior faces of the slidable outer walls 41. This void 43may exist both before and after the completion of a work stroke of theslidable outer walls 41. The initial diameter of the stent 42, prior tothe completion of a work stroke, is indicated with the character d₁ andthe numeral 49.

In this embodiment, the slidable outer walls 41 of the reconfigurationchamber 40 are activated to crimp the stent 42 onto the balloon catheter44. When activated, the slidable outer walls 41 slide towards oneanother and, thus, reduce the size of the aperture defined by them. Asthe aperture's diameter reaches the size of the exterior surface 48 ofthe coating 47, pressure is begun to be exerted on the coating 47 of thestent 42 and the stent begins to be reconfigured. As the diameter of theaperture is further reduced so too is the cross-sectional diameter ofthe stent 42. In order to retard damage to the coating 47 that contactsthe slidable outer walls 41, the temperature of the coating 47 has beenadjusted either before placing the stent 42 into the reconfigurationchamber 40 or while the stent 42 is located within the reconfigurationchamber 40.

In this embodiment the temperature of the coating 47 is adjusted afterthe stent has been placed within the reconfiguration chamber 40. Here, athermally conductive fluid may be flushed through the void 43 and incontact with the coating 47 to adjust the coating's temperature.Dependant upon the ambient temperature, the coating's preexistingtemperature, and the glass transition temperature of the coating, thetemperature of the existing surface of the coating 47 may be eitherheated or cooled. In this embodiment the temperature of the coating isreduced through the introduction of cooled ultra-dry air into the void43 until the desired resultant temperature of the coating 47 isachieved. Other cooling mediums may also be used including bothcompressible and non-compressible fluids. The desired resultanttemperature may depend upon the glass transition temperature of thecoating, the structural rigidity of the stent, the properties of theballoon catheter, and the anticipated future handling of the stent. Thedesired temperature or temperature range may be a percentage of theT_(g) or it may be a specific range of quantified values. In thisembodiment, the desired temperature range is approximately 20° Celsiusabove the glass transition temperature of the coating.

In this embodiment, once the temperature of the coating has beenadjusted to be within the desired temperature range, the slidable outerwalls 41 may complete a work stroke by sliding inwardly and,consequently, reconfiguring the stent 42 from a first position having adiameter d₁ to a second position having a diameter d₂ (illustrated inFIG. 6).

An insulating tube 46 is positioned around the slidable outer walls 41and is clearly evident in FIG. 4. This insulating tube 46 providesadditional thermal buffering between the potentially extremetemperatures generated within the reconfiguration chamber and itssurroundings. The insulating tube 46 may be made from an insulatingceramic or any other suitable insulating material. The slidable outerwalls 41 may also be designed to provide buffering between the extremetemperatures generated within the reconfiguration chamber and thesurroundings. For example the slidable outer walls 41 may be made frommaterials such as Dupont™ Delrin™ (acetal homopolymer and copolymer) andZirconium oxide ceramic which has been partially stabilized with Yttriato provide supplementary thermal buffering between the work-piece andthe surrounding area.

FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view taken along line 5—5 of thereconfiguration chamber 40 of FIG. 4. Various features of thereconfiguration tube 40 are evident in this illustration including theentrance tube 51, the exit tube 53, nozzles 52 and 54, insulating tube46, coating 47, thermal transfer fluid flow arrows 50, thermal transferfluid 55, stent 42, slidable outer walls 41, balloon catheter exteriorsurface 45, balloon catheter 44, regulator 56, and controller 57.

After the distal end of the catheter 44 has been placed within thereconfiguration chamber 40, in order to adjust the temperature of thecoating 47, thermal transfer fluid 53 may be delivered through tube 51and nozzle 52 into direct contact with the coating 47. Then, afterpassing over the coated stent, the fluid 50 may be recaptured throughnozzles 54 and exit tubes 53 where it can be stored or recycled backinto the process. The thermal transfer fluid 55 may be introduced andcirculated both prior to and during the reconfiguration of the stent 42,although it is preferable that the flow of the thermal transfer fluid 55be halted once the slidable outer walls 41 have begun to move. Thethermal transfer fluid may be any one of numerous suitable fluids,including liquid nitrogen, water, liquid helium, dry air, nitrogen,helium, or any other suitable compressible and non-compressible fluids.

After the crimping has occurred the slidable outer wall 41 may open andthe thermal transfer fluid 55 may cease its flow through the chamber.The balloon catheter 44 may then be removed from the reconfigurationchamber 40 and its temperature permitted to return to the ambienttemperature. Alternatively, the distal end of the catheter 44, carryingthe now crimped stent 42, may be subjected to other manufacturing stepsthat may also benefit from the coating's temporally increased hardness.

In this embodiment the regulator 56 and controller 57 act together as ameans for adjusting and maintaining the temperature of the coating 58although other configurations for this means are plausible. Thesecomponents work together to adjust and maintain the temperature of thecoating 47. The amount of fluid flowing through the entrance nozzles 52into the reconfiguration chamber may be monitored by the controller 57.When the requisite flow is detected no action may be required. However,should the controller 57 determine that the rate of fluid flow should beadjusted, in order to adjust or maintain the temperature of the coating47, it may, as required, send a signal that opens or closes theregulator 56.

This means for adjusting and maintaining the temperature 58 can takenumerous other configurations. For example, while it is illustrated asbeing comprised of regulators and controllers regulating the flow offluid into the reconfiguration chamber, this means could, instead,comprise manually adjustable valves that are adjusted by an operatormonitoring the temperature of the coating. Alternatively, this meanscould also be electrical coils or hollow thermal conduction tubescarrying a thermal conductive fluid such as liquid nitrogen. The coilsin either case may be placed within the slidable outer walls 41 and maybe used to provide the thermal adjustment of the coating of the stentvia the regulation of the fluid or electrical current flowing throughthem.

FIG. 6 provides an enlarged cross-sectional view of the reconfigurationchamber during a work stroke. As can be seen in FIG. 6 the slidableouter walls 41, containing residual transfer fluid 55 in the voids 43,have closed in on themselves and have reconfigured the stent 42 into asecond position such that the diameter d₂ of the stent 42 is smallerthan the diameter d₁ of the stent 42 in FIG. 4. Because the temperatureof the coating was brought closer to its glass transition temperature,the coating has substantially retained its shape, has not beensubstantially damaged, and has adequately transferred the forcesgenerated from the slidable outer walls to the stent 42.

FIG. 7 shows a side view of a reconfiguration chamber in accord withanother alternative embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 7,nozzle 74, catheter 79, stent 76, flow arrow 77, thermocouple 78,slidable outer walls 75, uptake 72, and thermal transfer fluid storagechamber 73 are all clearly evident. In this embodiment, after placingthe distal end of the catheter into the reconfiguration chamber, thenozzle 74 may be used to inject thermal transfer fluid into thereconfiguration chamber 70 in order to adjust the temperature of thecoating resident on stent 76. In this embodiment, the thermocouple 78may be used to monitor the temperature of the thermal transfer fluidleaving the reconfiguration chamber such that the stent resident withinthe reconfiguration chamber 70 may be adjusted to a desired targettemperature. In this embodiment, the uptake 72 may be positioned nearthe exit of the reconfiguration chamber 70 and may be used to capturethermal transfer fluid leaving the reconfiguration chamber in a thermaltransfer fluid storage chamber 73 for subsequent disposal or reuse.

Although not illustrated in this figure, the thermocouple 78 may be incommunication with a controller to act in conjunction with it as a meansfor adjusting and maintaining the temperature of the coating.

FIG. 8 is a side view of an alternative reconfiguration chamber inaccord with another alternative embodiment of the present invention.Illustrated in FIG. 8 are thermal transfer fluid storage chambers 850and 852, entrance tube 81, couple ring 83, catheter 89, nozzles 82,stent or work-piece 86, fluid flow arrows 87, slidable outer walls 85,thermocouple 88, and uptake 851. While similar to the embodiment in FIG.7, the embodiment of FIG. 8 utilizes a couple ring 83 in fluidcommunication with numerous nozzles 82 that travel through the slidableouter walls 85. These nozzles direct the thermal transfer fluid into thereconfiguration chamber and may be designed to increase or decrease thevelocity of the fluid's flow in relation to its velocity in the tube 81.By increasing or decreasing the flow of the fluid, the thermal transferrate between the fluid and the coating can be concomitantly increased ordecreased.

While several of the above embodiments describe a balloon expandablestent, self-expanding stents may also be crimped in accord with theprocesses described above. These self-expanding stents, rather thanrequiring the forces generated by the balloon catheter to expand them,are capable of expanding under their own power once they have beendeployed. In FIG. 9, as can be seen, the stent, previously crimped bythe processes described above to fit inside the sheath 90, may be storedwithin the sheath 90, where it will remain until it is deployed at atarget site of the body. Upon being deployed, the sheath 90 may beremoved thereby allowing the stent 91 to expand under its own forces.

As described above and as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the slidable outerwalls may contain conduits or lines for adjusting the temperature of thecoating.

In FIG. 10, which is a side sectional view of reconfiguration chamber100, the slidable outer walls 102 are shown with fluid conduits 101.These fluid conduits may be looped and travel throughout the individualslidable outer walls and may contain a thermal transfer fluid to adjustthe temperature of the slidable outer wall 102. This fluid may be cooledair and may be pumped through the conduits by a pumping system (notshown).

FIG. 11 is a side sectional view of a reconfiguration chamber 110.Rather than providing for a fluid conduit as in FIG. 10, the slidableouter walls 112 in FIG. 11 contain electrical lines 111. Theseelectrical lines, like the conduits described above, may be used toraise the temperature of the coating rather than lower it to reach thedesired resiliency or, alternatively, may be used to thaw the coatingafter the stent has been reconfigured and prior to its ejection from thereconfiguration chamber 110.

These conduits or lines may be used in place of the thermal fluidtransfer methods described above or in addition to the thermal fluidtransfer methods described above. In other words, the conduits or linesplaced into the walls 102 and 112 may be the sole source of adjustingthe temperature of the coating or they may be a supplement to thermaltransfer fluid being pumped over the coating. These conduits and linesmay also be classified as a means for adjusting and maintaining thetemperature of the coating.

Thermal conditioning of a coated work-piece during the reconfigurationof the work-piece is provided. While various embodiments have beenconveyed, it will be evident to one of skill in the art that otherembodiments, also within the spirit and scope of the present invention,are plausible.

1. An apparatus for reconfiguring from a first configuration to a secondconfiguration an externally coated work-piece comprising: a tubularreconfiguration chamber having a plurality of slidably mounted outerwalls, the outer walls slidably mounted along individual radial linesemanating from and orthogonal to the central longitudinal axis of thetubular reconfiguration chamber; and a means for adjusting andmaintaining the temperature of the external coating of a work-piecelocated within the tubular reconfiguration chamber.
 2. The apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein the means for adjusting and maintaining the temperatureincludes a fluid ejection nozzle in fluid communication with the tubularreconfiguration chamber.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the meansfor adjusting and maintaining the temperature is adapted to lower thetemperature of the external coating to be within the coating'ssuper-cooled liquid temperature range.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1wherein the means for adjusting and maintaining the temperature isadapted to raise the temperature of the external coating from itspreexisting temperature to be within the coating's super-cooled liquidtemperature range.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tubularreconfiguration chamber has a polygonal cross-section.
 6. An apparatusfor reconfiguring an externally coated reconfigurable work-piececomprising: a reconfiguration chamber; a nozzle in fluid communicationwith the reconfiguration chamber; a regulator in fluid communicationwith the nozzle, the regulator adapted to regulate the flow of a thermaltransfer fluid exiting the nozzle; and a controller in communicationwith the regulator, the controller adapted to send control signals tothe regulator to maintain the surface temperature of the externalcoating of the reconfigurable work-piece within a predeterminedtemperature range, the predetermined temperature range associated with apredetermined minimum hardness of the external coating of thereconfigurable work-piece.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein thecontroller is further adapted to send control signals to the regulatorto modify the surface temperature of the external coating of thereconfigurable work-piece to be at least 20 degrees Celsius closer tothe external coating's glass transition temperature.
 8. The apparatus ofclaim 6 wherein the controller is further adapted to send controlsignals to the regulator to modify the surface temperature of theexternal coating of the reconfigurable work-piece to be at least 10degrees Celsius closer to the external coating's glass transitiontemperature.
 9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the reconfigurationchamber has a polygonal cross-section.
 10. The apparatus of claim 6wherein the nozzle is incorporated into a wall of the reconfigurationchamber and wherein the nozzle is in fluid communication with a thermaltransfer fluid storage chamber.